ACID RAIN (2)

According to some scientists, one of the most serious problems for the environment is acid rain. Acid rain is caused mainly by power plants that burn coal to produce electricity. The smoke from these power plants contains acidic substances which later fall back to earth in rain or snow. As a result, the amount of acid in lakes and rivers increases, causing the fish to die. Already many lakes in Canada, the northeastern U.S., and Norway are contaminated by pollution from power plants. Scientists are also warning that acid rain can damage plants and trees and lead to the contamination of drinking water. It is, therefore, a danger to human health. Many governments do not want to pass laws that will reduce the pollution which causes acid rain. They say that the causes of acid rain are still not completely clear. However, it is clear to the majority of environmentalists that economics is the real reason why governments do not take immmediate action. In most industrial countries, the majority of power plants use coal. It will be extremely expensive to develop the special equipment that is needed to reduce the pollution from these power plants.

A. Mark the best choice.
The main idea of the passage is that .
a) although acid rain is a serious problem for the environment, governments have still not taken the necessary steps to reduce it
b) many power plants burn coal to produce electricity and this increases the amount of acid in rivers and lakes
c) acid rain, which is a serious problem for the environment, has polluted many lakes in Canada, Norway and the United States
d) many governments will pass laws to reduce acid rain when its causes become clear

B. Mark the statements as True (T) or False (F).
1. Power plants which burn coal to produce electricity pollute the environment.
2. Most environmentalists say that they do not really know the causes of acid rain.
3. It will not be cheap to reduce pollution from power plants.